Bureau of Immigration (BI) operatives arrested a Japanese national wanted by Tokyo authorities over theft charges.
In the agency's report, the 28-year-old male subject was apprehended on Monday in Angeles City, Pampanga.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado reported that the Bureau’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) arrested the suspect based on a mission order he issued, following a request from the Japanese government, which had alerted authorities to the fugitive's presence in the country.
Viado further emphasized that the individual would be deported for being an undesirable alien, and his name will be included in the Bureau’s blacklist, which will prohibit his future entry into the country.
According to the subject's travel history, he is currently overstaying in the Philippines, as his last entry was on March 16, 2019, and he has remained in the country ever since.
Meanwhile, BI-FSU chief Rendel Ryan Sy revealed that a Tokyo summary court issued a warrant for the Japanese national on October 27, 2022, after he was charged with theft in violation of Article 235 of Japan's Penal Code.
The suspect, along with an alleged accomplice, stole more than eight ATM cards by posing as law enforcement officers and tricking victims into surrendering their cards under the guise of a police investigation.
Over 724,000 yen (around US$4,600) was allegedly taken by the suspects through unauthorized ATM withdrawals using the stolen cards.
The Japanese national will be detained at the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, where he will stay while his deportation process is underway.
